The Phone Rings

Maria and Kenneth sat at the dinning table, alone. It was a rare occurence and they both savored the moment. For the first time in weeks the house was empty of active children, Teresa and Jose were eating dinner at the Kauker’s house. To celebrate Kenneth had made salmon another rarity for them, since the kids refused to eat fish.

“We should go on a date.” Kenneth stated after trying to remember the last time they had done anything alone.

“Us?” Maria questioned the idea sounding enticing.

“Yes, us. I’ll set it up. We can stay the night in Eaton. I’m sure Dorian and Allyn will watch the kids.”

“You haven’t even asked them yet.”

“Of course they will. We’ll just have to return the favor, when they want a night on the town.”

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“You mean I’m stuck with the boys all by myself.” Teresa said, her face falling.

“No, you won’t be by yourself. You can invite the Saunders girls over if Allyn is alright with it.”

“No, they go to their grandma’s house. It’s to late to ask.” Teresa voice took on a low whiny tone.

“We’ll Allyn will be here with you.” Maria said trying to appease her.

“Not the same. She old.”

Jose decided to out in and try to make his sister feel better. “You can play cops and robbers with Cephus and me.”

Teresa let out a huge breath, tossing a pointed look in her mother’s direction.

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Kenneth tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, debating the wisdom in going back into the house and pulling Maria out. He had started the care five minutes earlier and was getting tired of the wait.

He heard the front door slam shut, his hopes soaring. He turned and looked in the direction of the house hoping to see Maria walking down the steps to the waiting car.

For a minute he saw nothing. His hopes dashed but as he continued to glance at the front door he saw what appeared to be little feathers floating in the air.

He snapped his head forward pretending not to notice. He considered himself officially off duty. Dealing with whatever Jose and Cephus had gotten into was now all on Dorian and Allyn.

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Allyn couldn’t understand how the act of preparing for bed could be so noisy. It sounded like a herd of elephants had been let loose up stairs. She stared at the food waiting to be prepared in front of her and tried to convince herself to go upstairs and tell the boys to settle down.

A loud thump convinced her. She would stay in the kitchen and let Dorian handle the boys. She listened for the sound of his shoes on the stairs. Smiling as she heard the heard him reach the top.

Dorian had finally gotten Jose and Cephus to settle down and do a quieter activity after allowing them thirty more minutes before it was lights out. On his way back down stairs, he checked on Teresa, who was quietly reading a book. His stomach grumbled as the smell of frying bacon scented the air. Her probably should have eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for dinner instead of waiting until the kids were sleep to eat.

The phone started to ring right as he passed it. He picked it up, expecting it to be either Maria or Kenneth, checking up on the kids.

“Hey, Dorian. It’s Ramin.” The voice on the other end said after he picked up.

“What’s happening, Ramin? Don’t tell me you guys need more help tonight. I’m here helping my wife keep these children from tearing down the house. I can’t come in tonight.”

Ramin cleared his throat, unsure of how to precede. “It’s not that, Dorian. If only it was something that simple. It’s about the Mr. and Mrs. Tyson.”

Dorian listened without commenting. Taking each word in, trying to process them. Trying to make sense of them.

“…. The car was struck on the side.”

“… He has been flown to the trauma center.”

Who was Ramin talking about? Not Kenneth. Not Maria. It couldn’t be those two. They had only left hours ago, for a date night. The cop in him told him that didn’t matter. But the human side of him, the friend and father, told him that Ramin was mistaken. That it couldn’t be Maria and Kenneth. The same Maria and Kenneth daughter was quietly reading a book on her bed. Or whose son was trying to be quiet, something that went completely against his nature.

“… She died on impact.”

He doesn’t remember hanging the receiver up or walking into the kitchen. All he knows is somehow he made it to the kitchen. That she was blissful unaware about the news he had to share. He held his breath trying to enjoy the moment. The innocence of it all, the sounds of the boys jumping on the bed, the food cooking on the stove.

Knowing in a moment she would be aware of him standing behind her, knowing that he would have to be the one delivering the bad news.

The news that would forever alter all their lives.

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A family photo of the Flores-Tyson family before I killed off Maria. I just couldn’t end her life without at least attempting to give them a proper family portrait.

It was the hardest thing ever for me to kill off Maria Flores-Tyson. She is one of the CAS that originally started Oasis Valley and I was really fond of her. Damn ROS. For a while I debated on if I could really care this out but I forced myself and did it.

The Kauker’s will move into the Flores-Tyson house and take care of the kids until Kenneth is released from the hospital. I have a couple of updates on how the family handles the tragedy planned.

Don’t worry… I don’t have anything planned for the children until the winter. I plan to let them get a little time to settle down. I’ll spare you the details of their pain for now. Give them and me a time to recoup, a little.